Unstable ware push plate

ABSTRACT

In glassware forming machinery, a reciprocating type of 90* push-out assembly is modified to adapt it to the handling of unstable glassware. One or more stabilizing fingers are added which become positioned on the outer side of the glassware. These fingers cooperate with the normal push fingers to engage the unstable glassware on three sides and thereby to stabilize the ware as it is swept forwardly through an arc of 90* from the dead plate to the conveyor. At the end of the 90* forward sweep, the stabilizing fingers are automatically raised so that they clear the glassware during the retraction stroke of the 90* push-out assembly. The stabilizing fingers are maintained in their raised positions not only during the entire retraction stroke, but also during the 90* return swing of the push-out assembly to a position facing the dead plate, and also during the entire forward extension stroke of the push-out mechanism. It is not until the push plate has reached its full forward position facing the dead plate that the stabilizing fingers are lowered from their raised position. In their lowered position, the stabilizing fingers are adapted to engage the far sides of the glassware just deposited on the dead plate and to sweep the new glassware from the dead plate to the conveyor.

United States Patent [191 Faure 51 Jan. 2,1973

[54] UNSTABLE WARE PUSH PLATE [75] Inventor: Alphonse W. Faure, Philadelphia,

[73] Assignee: C.S.S. Machine 8: Tool Company,

Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: April 28, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 138,123

Primary ExaminerEdward A. Sroka Attorney-Henry N. Paul, Jr. et al.

[57] ABSTRACT In glassware forming machinery, a reciprocating type of 90 push-out assembly is modified to adapt it to the handling of unstable glassware. One or more stabilizing fingers are added which become positioned on the outer side of the glassware. These fingers cooperate with the normal push fingers to engage the unstable glassware on three sides and thereby to stabilize the ware as it is swept forwardly through an arc of 90 from the dead plate to the conveyor. At the end of the 90 forward sweep, the stabilizing fingers are automatically raised so that they clear the glassware during the retraction stroke of the 90 push-out assembly. The stabilizing fingers are maintained in their raised positions not only during the entire retraction stroke, but also during the 90 return swing of the push-out assembly to a position facing the dead plate, and also during the entire forward extension stroke of the pushout mechanism. It is not until the push plate has reached its full forward position facing the dead plate that the stabilizing fingers are lowered from their raised position. In their lowered position, the stabilizing fingers are adapted to engage the far sides of the glassware just deposited on the dead plate and to sweep the new glassware from the dead plate to the conveyor.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAM 2197a SHEET 1 [IF 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDJAN 2 ms SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR. Alphonse W. Foure ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDJAM 2 I975 SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR.

Alphonse W. Fou e ATTORNEYS.

UNSTABLE WARE PUSH PLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to glassware forming machinery and particularly to a 90 push-out assembly which sweeps the glassware from the dead plate to the conveyor.

The invention relates to 90 push-out assemblies of the reciprocating type in which a push plate mounted at.

the forward end of a piston is driven, as by a fluid motor assembly, in reciprocating fashion. The piston is driven into its extended position when the assembly faces the dead plate. After the push-plate has been swung forwardly through an arc of 90, the piston is retracted,

and the assembly is then swung back through a return SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An important object of the present invention is to modify 90 push-out equipment of the type shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,537, to enable it to handle unstable glassware.

The foregoing object is achieved by providing one or more stabilizing fingers. One stabilizing finger is added for each bottle or other glassware item to be swept from the dead plate to the conveyor. In the embodiment shown in the present application, the glass forming machine is assumed to be a two-mold per section machine, with two bottles being formed simultaneously in each section. Accordingly, two stabilizingly fingers are illustrated in the push-out mechanism shown and described herein. Means are provided for automatically raising the stabilizing fingers after the bottles have been swept through an arc of 90 from the dead plate to the conveyor. This permits retraction of the push-out piston, push plate, and push finger assemblies without having the stabilizing fingers come into engagement with the unstable glassware on the conveyor. Thereafter the stabilizing fingers are prevented from being lowered from their raised to their lowered position until after the 90 push-out assembly has been returned back through an arc of 90 and the piston fully extended toward the dead plate. Then, and only then, does the mechanism allow the raised stabilizing fingers to be automatically lowered into position to cooperate with the normally provided push fingers to sweep the new items of glassware from the dead plate to the conveyor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a 90 push-out assembly with push plate facing the dead plate and with the stabilizing fingers in their lowered position;

the push plate and push fingers. The stabilizing fingers are in their lowered position.

FIG. 4 is a view looking along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2. This view is from the conveyor toward the push plate and push fingers. The stabilizing fingers are in their raised position.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, looking along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, showing the actuating rod.

FIG. 6 is a view looking along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view looking along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

F IG. 8 is a view looking along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 showing the D-shaped actuating rod in registry with the D-shaped slot in the retaining plate;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing how the actuating rod is actuated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates two items of unstable glassware G on dead plate P awaiting transfer to the conveyor C. This transfer is made when the 90 push out assembly is swung clockwise 90 about the axis of the vertical shaft FIG. 2 shows the two items of unstable glassware G after they have been transferred from the dead plate P to the conveyor C. The conveyor is moving from left to right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the transfer is referred to as a right hand transfer.

In FIG. I, the piston 20 is shown fully extended, and push plate 40 at the forward end of piston 20 faces toward the dead plate P. In FIG. 2, the piston is still fully extended but since the assembly has been rotated 90 about the vertical shaft 60, the push plate 40 now faces toward the conveyor C.

The 90 push-out mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is basically similar to that shown and described in my US. Pat. No. 3,559,557, and, accordingly, it will only be necessary to briefly describe the 90 push-out mechanism.

Shaft 60, previously referred to, is a vertically disposed shaft which is driven, by means not shown, back and forth in an oscillatory manner through an angle of 90. Keyed to oscillatory shaft 60 is a base plate which supports the fluid motor assembly M. The fluid motor assembly M is shown mounted to one side of the vertical shaft 60 because the fluid motor assembly shown may be mounted for either right-hand or left-hand operation. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the mechanism set up for a right-hand transfer. If the mechanism were to be used for a left-hand transfer, the fluid motor assembly M would be swung pivotally about an axis A, seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, to a position on I the other side of the vertical oscillating shaft 60.

The fluid motor assembly M includes a cylinder 12 and an extendible-retractable piston 20, together with guide rods 26 and 27, one on either side of the piston 20. The piston 20 and guide rods 26 and 27 carry at their forward ends a push-plate 40, and push plate 40 carries a pair of push-finger assemblies 141 and 142. As previously indicated, if the device is to be used in a single-mold section machine to transfer a single item of unstable glassware on each sweep, rather than a pair of items of glassware as illustrated, then push-plate. 40 would carry but a single push-finger assembly.

The push-finger assemblies 141 and 142 may be basically similar to that shown and described in my aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,537. The structural details are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 of that patent, and need not be repeated here.

The means for actuating the fluid motor assembly M to extend and retract the piston 20 in timed relationship with the oscillatory movements of the shaft 60 are explained in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,537 and need not be explained here.

The 90 push-out mechanism shown in my aforesaid Pat. No. 3,559,537 is entirely satisfactory for sweeping stable glassware from the dead plate to the conveyor. However, when the items of glassware are unstable, it may be desirable to provide means for assuring that the items of glassware do not topple over during the transfer, and such means are provided by the present invention.

The invention will be described in connection with a two-mold section wherein two items of glassware are formed simultaneously. It is to be understood, as previously indicated, that the invention could be used on a single-mold section machine, or could be expanded to accommodate to a three-mold section machine.

According to the present invention, stabilizing fingers are added to the push-plate 40 and cooperate with the push-finger assemblies 141 and 142. When the piston 20 is fully extended forwardly toward the dead plate P and the push finger assemblies 141 and 142 are facing the dead plate, the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 are, for a reason which will be explained, in their lowered positions, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. As a result, the unstable items of glassware G are adapted to be engaged by a finger on three sides, i.e., the inward side, the rear side, and the outer side. This condition continues during the sweep of the unstable glassware items through an arc of 90 from the dead plate P to the conveyor C. At the end of the 90 forward sweep, the means provided by the present invention are effective to automatically raise the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 from their lowered position shown in FIG. 3 to the raised position indicated in FIG. 4. In the raised position, the piston 20 may be retracted without having the stabilizing fingers come into contact with the items G which have been deposited on the conveyor C.

It will be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, that the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 in their lowered position are not horizontal, and in their raised position are not vertical. In order to assure that the fingers 71 and 72 clear the glassware G on the conveyor as the piston 20 is retracted, it is preferable to swing the fingers 71 and 72 beyond the vertical, as shown in FIG. 4. And, since the fingers are preferably swung through 90 as they are moved between lowered and raised positions, it will be seen that the fingers 71 and 72 in their lowered position, are somewhat above a horizontal position.

By the present invention, means are provided which assure that the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 remain in their raised positions, not only during the entire retraction stroke of the piston 20, but also during the 90 return sweep of the fluid motor assembly, and also through the entire extension stroke of the piston 20. It is not until the push'plate 40 reaches its full forward position facing the dead plate P that the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 are lowered from their raised to their lowered position. The specific means by which this is accomplished will now be described.

A bracket 92 is secured to the side of the housing of the fluid motor assembly M. Mounted on the forward face of bracket 92 is a housing 79, and between the housing 79 and the bracket 92 is a retaining plate 73 having therein a D-shaped slot 74 through which may pass an elongated actuating rod 75, which is also of D- shaped cross-section. Mounted on rod 75 within housing 79, just in front of the retaining plate 73, is a spur gear 76 having a collar 77. In mesh with spur gear 76 is a rack 78, seen best in FIGS. 5, 7 and 10. Rack 78 is movable in a slot in housing 79.

Actuating rod 75 extends forwardly through the bore of a hollow gear 80. Gear is supported in push plate 40, and retained therein by a retaining plate 187. A pair of collars are mounted on rod 75, fixed thereto by set screws 101 and 102. These collars prevent axial movement of rod 75 relative to push plate 40. Thus, as piston 20 is extended and retracted, thereby extending and retracting push plate 40, the actuating rod 75 is moved outwardly and inwardly through the housing 79 and through a hole 192 provided in the wall of bracket 92.

Secured to the forward end of actuating rod'75, for rotational movement therewith, is one of the stabilizing fingers 71. The other stabilizing finger 72 is mounted rearward of finger 71 at the forward end of a pin 88 which is supported in push plate 40 near the rearward end thereof. Pin 88 carries a gear 87 which is in engagement with a rack 86 which is movable back and forth in a slot 144 in push plate 40. Rack 86 also engages with gear 80 which is keyed to actuating rod 75.

Actuating rod 75 has a D-shaped cross section for most of its length, but for one short axial portion, identified as in the drawing, rod 75 has a circular cross section of reduced diameter. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the radial dimension of the reduced diameter portion 85 of rod 75 is equal to the dimension from the center axis of the D-shaped portion of rod 75 to the flat of the D. It will be seen then that actuating rod 75 may be rotated on its own axis only when the reduced portion 85 is in the D-slot 74 of plate 73. It will also be clear that when the D-shaped portions of rod 75 are in the D-slot 74, the rod 75 may be moved in its lengthwise direction, but cannot be rotated on its own axis. FIG. 8 illustrates this condition when the D-rod 75 is not in alignment with the D-slot 74, and FIG. 9 illustrates the condition when the D-rod 75 is in alignment with the D-slot.

The means for actuating the rod 75 in timed coordination with the sweep of the fluid motor assembly M and in timed relation with the extension and retraction of the push plate 40 will now be described. Supported on housing of the oscillatory drive of shaft 60 is a bracket 90 carrying an adjustable screw 91, seen best in FIG. 4. Secured in valve body 50 is a fixed pin 55 which pivotally supports a lever 51. Secured in bracket 92 is a fixed pin 56 which supports for pivotal movement thereon a link lever 53 and a push lever 54. Another link lever 52 couples lever 53 to lever 51 by means of floating pins 57 and 58.

Bracket 90 is so positioned, and screw 91 is so adjusted, that just as the fluid motor assembly M completes its 90 forward sweep, to the position shown in FIG. 2, lever 51 comes into engagement with the screw 91 and is moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. When this happens, the nose of push lever 54 pushes against pin 59 which hangs in depending position from rack 78 and thereby pushes rack 78 from left to right, as viewed in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 10.

As rack 78 is pushed from left to right in housing 79, it is guided by pin 61 which projects upwardly from rack 78 and slides in guide slot 62. At this time, piston and push plate 40 are at their fully extended positions, and so is actuating rod 75 which moves along with push plate 40. The reduced-diameter circular cross-section portion 85 of rod 75 is now in registry with the D-slot 74 in plate 73, and, accordingly, rod 75 is free to be turned on its own axis, and it does so when rack 78 is pushed from left to right by lever 54, since rack 78 drives gear 76 rotationally clockwise.

When rod 75 is thus rotated in its own axis, as just described, gear 80, which is keyed to rod 75, is also rotated clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 10, and rack 86 is thereby driven from left to right. This causes gear 87 to rotate clockwise, and since gear 87 is keyed to pin 88, pin 88 is driven rotationally clockwise on its own axis when rod 75 is rotated clockwise.

As a result of the action described above, the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 are raised from their lowered or work positions, shown in FIG. 3, to their raised or clear positions, shown in FIG. 4. This change occurs at the moment the fluid motor assembly M reaches the end of its 90 forward sweep, and just before the retraction stroke of piston 20 is begun.

It will be seen from the drawings that when the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 are raised to their raised or clear positions at the end of the 90 forward sweep, the D-shaped cross-sectional portion of rod 75 will have been put into axial alignment with the D-slot in plate 74. Accordingly, when the piston 20 is retracted, and the push plate 40 moved inwardly toward the cylinder, the rod 75 slides inwardly through the D-slot 74.

With the piston 20 retracted, the fluid motor assembly M is now moved by shaft 60 through 90 in the counterclockwise direction. Piston 20 is then extended forwardly by the fluid motor until push plate 40 has reached its full forward position facing the dead plate P. During this forward extension, rod 75 is free to slide lengthwise through slot 74 but is prevented from rotating on its own axis by the fact that it is keyed into the D- slot in plate 74. When, however, the push plate 40 reaches its full forward position, the D-shaped crosssectional portion of rod 75 clears the D-slot 74 and the reduced-diameter circular cross-sectional portion of rod 75 is now in registry with slot 74. Accordingly, rod 75 is now free to be rotated on its own axis, and such rotation immediately occurs as a result of the push force of spring 63 against the right end of rack 78. As a result of this force, rack 78 moves from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 10, gear 76 rotates counter-clockwise, rod 75 turns counter-clockwise on its own axis, gear 80 is thereby rotated counter-clockwise, rack 86 is moved from right to left, gear 87 rotates counter-clockwise, and pin 88 is rotated.

As a result of the action described above, the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 are lowered from their raised or clear positions to their lowered or work positions on the far sides of the unstable glassware items G on the dead plate P.

The work position of the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 may be controlled by means of an adjustable stop 171 which limits the movement of link lever 53 and thereby limits the extent to which rack 78 may be moved to the left by the push spring 63. In FIG. 3, it has been assumed that the adjustable stop 171 is so adjusted that the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 in their lowered or work positions are inclined above horizontal position. This is not necessary; the stabilizing fingers 71 and 72 in their work positions may be substantially horizontal.

The one end of push spring 63 which is shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 to be pushing against the end face of rack 78 may be modified to enter a hole in rack 78, or any other suitable spring biasing means may be used.

Also, the rearward end portion of the D-shaped cross-sectional portion of rod immediately adjacent to the reduced-diameter portion 8 5 may preferably be tapered to provide a cam entry of the D-shaped rod into the D-slot 74, thereby to make allowance for a slight misalignment of the D-rod relative to the D-slot at the moment of withdrawal or retraction of piston 20 when the assembly is in the position shown in FIG. 2, facing the conveyor.

While I have shown the keyed portion of rod 75 to be D-shaped, other shapes could be used to meet the keying requirements.

What is claimed is:

1. In glassware forming apparatus having a dead plate and a conveyor, transfer means for transferring newly formed ware from the dead plate to the conveyor, said transfer means comprising:

a. oscillatory base means movable through 90 for sweeping ware from the dead plate to the conveyor; 1

b. fluid motor means mounted on said oscillatory base and having extendible-retractable means;

0. a push plate carried at the forward end of said extendible-retractable means;

push fingers carried by said push plate;

stabilizing fingers carried by said push plate and adapted to cooperate with said push fingers to transfer ware from the dead plate to the conveyor; f. means for lowering said stabilizing fingers to a work position beyond the newly formed ware on the dead plate in response to said push plate reaching fully extended position facing said dead plate; 7 means for raising said stabilizing fingers to a clear position to clear the ware on the conveyor in response to said push plate having reached fully extended position facing said conveyor and prior to retraction thereof; said means for lowering and raising said stabilizing finger means including: h-l. an elongatedrod on which said stabilizing fingers are mounted, said rod having a keyed crosssection for a major portion of its length and a reduced diameter portion for a minor portion of its length near the rearward end thereof,

h-2. a fixed member rearward of said push plate,

h-3. a keyway in said fixed member having a configuration corresponding to that of said keyed cross-section of said rod and adapted to receive said rod only when said rod is in a preselected angular position relative to its center axis, said keyway being adapted to receive said reduceddiameter portion of said rod in all angular positions of the rod, and

h-4. means for carrying said rod on said push plate with the forward portion extending forwardly of said push plate and the rearward portion of said rod extending rearwardly through said keyway in said fixed member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that:

a. gear means are keyed to said rod;

b. a rack is operatively connected to said gear;

0. spring-bias means urge said rack in one of its lengthwise directions, thereby to urge said gear means to rotate said rod on its own axis in a direction to lower the stabilizing fingers to work position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that:

a. rack push means are provided adapted to operatively engage said rack to push said rack against the action of said spring-bias means, and

b. fixed actuating means are provided adapted to be engaged by said rack push means when said push plate reaches fully extended position facing said conveyor for pushing said rack in a direction to raise said stabilizing fingers to clear position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that a. said keyed cross-section of said rod is D-shaped and b. said keyway in said fixed member is a D-shaped slot.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that said reduced diameter portion of said rod is circular in cross section and has a radius equal to the dimension from the center axis of said D-shaped cross sectional portion of said rod to the flat of the D. 

1. In glassware forming apparatus having a dead plate and a conveyor, transfer means for transferring newly formed ware from the dead plate to the conveyor, said transfer means comprising: a. oscillatory base means movable through 90* for sweeping ware from the dead plate to the conveyor; b. fluid motor means mounted on said oscillatory base and having extendible-retractable means; c. a push plate carried at the forward end of said extendibleretractable means; d. push fingers carried by said push plate; e. stabilizing fingers carried by said push plate and adapted to cooperate with said push fingers to transfer ware from the dead plate to the conveyor; f. means for lowering said stabilizing fingers to a work position beyond the newly formed ware on the dead plate in response to said push plate reaching fully extended position facing said dead plate; g. means for raising said stabilizing fingers to a clear position to clear the ware on the conveyor in response to said push plate having reached fully extended position facing said conveyor and prior to retraction thereof; h. said means for lowering and raising said stabilizing finger means including: h-1. an elongated rod on which said stabilizing fingers are mounted, said rod having a keyed cross-section for a major portion of its length and a reduced diameter portion for a minor portion of its length near the rearward end thereof, h-2. a fixed member rearward of said push plate, h-3. a keyway in said fixed member having a configuration corresponding to that of said keyed cross-section of said rod and adapted to receive said rod only when said rod is in a preselected angular position relative to its center axis, said keyway being adapted to receive said reduced-diameter portion of said rod in all angular positions of the rod, and h-4. means for carrying said rod on said push plate with the forward portion extending forwardly of said push plate and the rearward portion of said rod extending rearwardly through said keyway in said fixed member.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that: a. gear means are keyed to said rod; b. a rack is operatively connected to said gear; c. spring-bias means urge said rack in one of its lengthwise directions, thereby to urge said gear means to rotate said rod on its own axis in a direction to lower the stabilizing fingers to work position.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that: a. rack push means are provided adapted to operatively engage said rack to push said rack against the action of said spring-bias means, and b. fixed actuating means are provided adapted to be engaged by said rack push means when said push plate reaches fully extended position facing said conveyor for pushing said rack in a direction to raise said stabilizing fingers to clear position.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that a. said keyed cross-section of said rod is D-shaped and b. said keyway in said fixed member is a D-shaped slot.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that said reduced diameter portion of said rod is circular in cross section and has a radius equal to the dimension from the center axis of said D-shaped cross sectional portion of said rod to the flat of the D. 